Stoke City Vs Manchester City Predictions, Betting Tips and Preview

George Dempsey - 17-Aug-2016

Stoke City Vs Manchester City Predictions, Betting Tips and Preview

Manchester City will be looking for their third straight win at the start of this campaign on Saturday, but it won’t be against a Stoke side who are
known for making it tough when big teams visit. Below is our match preview, prediction and betting tips.

Pep Guardiola has had an interesting start to life at Man City, but he’s certainly putting his stamp on the club early. City were extremely good at
keeping and recycling possession in their opening day win against Sunderland, even if they did lack the cutting edge.

They lacked nothing midweek as they dispatched of Steaua without any issues, winning 5-0 on their travels. The opposition was weak but it gave us
a glimpse of what City are trying to do going forward and once they’re up to speed we can expect similar performances in the Premier League.

Off the field Pep raised eyebrows with some team selections last week, choosing to go with Willy Caballero in goal and Kolarov as a central defender with
Otamendi on the bench. Pep used Otamendi midweek, but Hart remained on the bench. It now seems likely the England International is on his way out of
the club.

No European commitments for Stoke who have had a week to try and get themselves healthier than they were for the clash with Boro. The absence of several
key players didn’t prevent The Potters from leaving the Riverside with a 1-1 draw, but Boro were the better side on the back of what was a poor pre-season
for City.

City did manage to beat a much weakened Orlando City side but were held by Preston and beaten comfortably by Burton. International players taking extra
time to recover and also the injuries Stoke have been dealing with may have been a factor, and that could extend in to the season.

Match Predictions and Betting Tips

Stoke City are the home team here but they’re also the outsiders. Backing them on their own patch at 9/4 with Bet Victor isn’t the worst investment given their performances here last season. The draw is available at 11/4 with Bet365 whilst Sky Bet offer the best odds for a Manchester City win at 8/11.

I can find reasons why both teams are good value for a result here. We’ve see City make a very strong in unspectacular start in winning two of two, and
they have a lot of room to grow. They’re better at possession than I’ve ever seen them and now just needs ways to be more dangerous with it.

Stoke is a hard place for any team to come but especially the ‘top teams’ it would seem. Chelsea were beaten here twice last season whilst United, City
and Arsenal all left without a goal as Stoke took seven points from those three games.

Liverpool beat Stoke here 1-0 on the opening day before the Potters had hit their stride, and they then went on to hold Leicester 2-2. Outside of those
games they dropped points often and they did look beatable at home, but they clearly played up.

City have lost just once in their last nine visits to Stoke, although they’ve only won twice. That leaves us with seven draws between the sides. It’s not
an easy place to come. Pep’s decision to play a full strength side midweek is also a factor, but it’s safe to say those players won’t see a minute
of the second leg.

I do think there is definite work to be done defensively for City. They remained me of Pep’s Barcelona side in that as dominant as they are, they can concede
one goal if the opposition makes one chance. The difference being City won’t create and score as many chances.

Caballero is definitely a good goalkeeper but I don’t think it will take much for fans to be on his case in the circumstances. He won some round in the
cup final and he did start well against Sunderland, but he can be suspect. City are also waiting to get up to full strength with the likes of Kompany,
Gundogan and Managala out, so Stoke should have opportunities.

That makes me feel like both teams to score is a much safer bet at 4/5 with Bet365 as our free betting tip. But do I think City will win?
They should, so I’ll predict a 3-1 win for the visitors at 14/1 with Bet365.

It’s hard to suggest that City could score as many as three yet a certain Argentine won’t get in on the action, so Sergio Aguero to score any time is at 1/1 with William Hill.

Free Betting Tip Both Teams Score – 4/5 with Bet365

Correct Score Prediction Man City 3-1 – 14/1 with Bet365

Goal-Scorer Prediction Sergio Aguero – 1/1 with William Hill

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